Having A Difficult Start

[zagbee]

I opened my daycare in early March and started advertising as much as possible. I have posted numerous Craigslist ads, I'm featured on care.com, I have a website, a FB page that I am always sharing on my own FB, I'm listed on Google Maps as a business, and we have car magnets with our logo and #. We have had mild interest, mostly from people looking for infant care and our infant space is already filled.

We have had a few interviews and it seems that most people are weary because we don't have any children here yet and I guess maybe they don't trust that we are going to be successful or something? But, we obviously can't be successful until we get some people to enroll.

Our prices are very similar to other home daycares in the area so I don't think that is the problem. We offer full time, part time, and drop in care. I just don't know what else to do.

I know I haven't been open long, but the longer we are open with no kids here, the more parents are raising an eyebrow at us when they interview. I try to avoid the question, but they always ask.

Sorry this is so long. It's getting really frustrating not even getting one family to enroll and we are trying really hard to not feel desperate. Any advice?

[CraftyMom]

It can be hard to get that first kid enrolled, it took me a couple months as well. This is also a difficult time of year, many of us are low in numbers and looking to fill a spot or two. It will happen! You are doing great with your advertising! It's just a matter of the right person seeing it.

Do you have your own kids? I always included my kids in my numbers when people asked in the beginning so it didn't look like I was completely empty
You said your infant spot is filled, is that your own infant?

[TwinKristi]

Yeah, I'm curious how your infant spots are filled if you don't have any kids enrolled? :confused: And does your state allow a certain number of infants if your total is lower than normal? Like in CA we can have 2 infants, 4 toddlers and 2 school-aged kids for a total of 8. But I can have 3 infants as long as I only have 6 kids total OR I can have ONLY 4 infants. So would it be lucrative for you to explore having more infants just to get money coming in and more clients looking? 4-6 kids with more infants is better than none for now!

Have you tried a sign on promotion? Like $50 off the first week or anything? Referral bonus, $50 Visa gift card for a referral with a FT sign up (after 2 wks or something?)

I was lucky in the fact that I was referred by others when I first opened. My neighbor has a DC and I helped her for a couple years so when I opened my own and she was full she would send people my way. I also had friends who needed DC as well so it was just an automatic business from before I was even licensed. Since being licensed I have had more people calling from the R&R agency, CL, word of mouth, etc. I've had a couple people msg me from Facebook now but only 1 has signed up PT. I've been licensed since Dec 2012, was full by August but almost empyty again come Dec/Jan. and now I have 1 spot pending registration on Tuesday and I'll be full again. It's an up and down a lot here. I get lots of calls some months and none other months. Good luck!!

[zagbee]

Sorry, I should have clarified about the infant space! I have 2 that I'm allowed to use, but my own daughter takes up one space and I am saving a space for an infant starting in June. I wouldn't normally hold a spot for that long, but it is a family I know and we had discussed it before their son was even born. I wish I could take on more infants, but in my state I'm only allowed the 2 unless I get a 3 under 2 license which I can only get after having been open for at least 2 years and with extra training. So I technically do have someone enrolled, but they aren't here yet.

I do appreciate all of the advice and I am planning on joining one of my local associations and hoping that helps. I think I will also try a sign on promotion and see if that sparks a little interest. I know rationally that I am being impatient, but I think getting my first family in here is just daunting.

[bklsmum]

When I first started I lowered my prices a little so I was below average for our area and then after 6 months I bumped them up to be comparable. I also offer sibling discounts and monthly prepay discounts. I've been open a little less than a year and already have a waiting list.

[TwinKristi]

Sorry, I should have clarified about the infant space! I have 2 that I'm allowed to use, but my own daughter takes up one space and I am saving a space for an infant starting in June. I wouldn't normally hold a spot for that long, but it is a family I know and we had discussed it before their son was even born. I wish I could take on more infants, but in my state I'm only allowed the 2 unless I get a 3 under 2 license which I can only get after having been open for at least 2 years and with extra training. So I technically do have someone enrolled, but they aren't here yet.

I do appreciate all of the advice and I am planning on joining one of my local associations and hoping that helps. I think I will also try a sign on promotion and see if that sparks a little interest. I know rationally that I am being impatient, but I think getting my first family in here is just daunting.

Well I hope you're getting something for holding the spot, especially turning down potential clients (aka MONEY) until June. We've heard many, many stories of people getting burned holding spots for people only to turn others down and then they never start. I hope that's not going to happen, but what about a child who's under 2 now but turning 2 in June?

So as of now you have absolutely no one but your own child and no one wants to start because you don't have anyone but you will have one in June? I guess it will take finding someone who's interested in smaller group of kids and more individualized care. Are you marketing for that at this point? I always make sure to include info on low child to provider ratios. Some people only want socialization for their kids, some people only want the top rated center. You just have to find the right people for YOUR group.

[Tsadri]

Be confident when potential clients make a comment on the fact you don't have any other children enrolled. Emphasize what a great opportunity they have for their child to receive such individualized care. Remind them that enrollment slots are limited for your high quality services and they are lucky to have found you before you've filled up. Show off your space with pride and feel good about meeting the standards your state has in place for home daycares. You'll do great!

[hope]

You can call the local schools and ask if you can put up a flyer in the teachers lounge. Call local businesses and ask if you can put up flyers in the break rooms. You may feel awkward calling and your request may be rejected by some but all it takes is one place to say yes. Once you get one client and they start to refer things change!!! I always seem to get business from flyers at ice cream shops around town. Some libraries have bulletin boards. Ask the churches in the neighborhood if they have bulletin boards. Good luck!!!!